- Af Elbasani have won their last two games and are in good form heading into this clash.
- BATE Borisov have lost their last three games, so they are on a losing streak.
- Af Elbasani have won three, drawn one and lost one of their last five home games across all competitions.
Af Elbasani are the slight favourites
Af Elbasani are coming off a 3-0 win over Dinamo Tirana and a 2-1 win over KS Vllaznia Shkoder - two results that give them some momentum going into this match. They have rotated through a 4-3-3 structure and a compact 4-4-2 look, with their wingers and full-backs looking to get forward quickly and exploit the channels.
BATE have played with a three-at-the-back and a four-at-the-back structure under new head coach Vitali Rogozhkin - who has introduced a slightly more structured and flexible setup since 15th May 2026. They've played better soccer and looked more organised than they had been, but the results haven't matched the improvements.
BATE are in a poor run of form, coming off three straight defeats, including a 2-0 defeat to Torpedo Belaz Zhodino and a 2-1 defeat to FC Gomel, both games on the road, where they have now gone three without a victory. They will arrive in Albania without much swagger.
BATE have a goal in them, but Af will get the best of the play
BATE should have enough about them to stay in this game, but Af will have the edge. The home side have scored ten goals in their last five across all competitions and can do some damage if they win the second balls and get forward into the wide areas quickly.
BATE have scored eleven goals in their last five on the road across all competitions, so they have been finding ways to be dangerous. Maksim Sakuta has been the bright spark, scoring two of their three goals in the last five.
Under 2.5 goals at 1.59 looks a little top value considering Af are the favourites at 1.85 and BATE are 3.71. This UEFA Conference League qualifier should be a close and cagey battle, rather than a rout. Af have enough form to fancy an upset, but BATE's away form suggests they can keep this close.
Af's form across their last ten is 5-1-4, which is enough to suggest they have bite, while BATE are 1-5-4 across their last ten, which shows inconsistency. This clash of Af's direct, transition-heavy style against BATE's control-first approach will see Af's pace and width against BATE's organisation and midfield control.
